Robyn joined Lyrica Baroque in 2017 as one of our very first board members. She guided us as we started building from the ground up –– how to schedule and run board meetings, how to expand programming, facilitating connections for community partnerships, hosting house concerts and hosting Lyrical Affair 2019. Not only have Robyn and Andrew given generously throughout the years, ensuring stability and programming for youth when the organization was just getting its footing, but they also inspire others to give, allowing Lyrica Baroque to grow and thrive. Robyn and Andrew’s passion for music, art and youth is deep and unflinching. They are behind the scenes fiercely advocating for the arts and arts education every single day. They lead by example, inspiring us all to give and support as generously as they do. It is our great pleasure and joy to honor their immense contributions and incredible impact on Lyrica Baroque and our great city. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. 

Raudol Palacios is a Cuban-born cellist and the artistic director at Palacios House of Arts. Palacios embarked on his musical journey in Venezuela through El Sistema and the Mozarteum School of Music under Professor Germán Marcano. He later refined his craft with Susan Ribicky-Varga in Switzerland at the Conservatoire Cantonal du Valais-Sion. He earned his Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance at Louisiana State University under Dennis Parker, and he is currently pursuing his Master’s degree with Parker. 

Driven by a passion for music and education, Palacios founded Palacios House of Arts, a non-profit dedicated to educating children through immersive music and arts programs, with the mission of enriching the community’s cultural fabric. Alongside his performance career, Raudol has been composing, arranging, editing, and recording music since the age of 12. His dedication extends to his students, whom he inspires to compose their own music. His compositions have been featured in multiple bands, including Ship of Fools and Favorite Friend. 

Raudal first collaborated with Lyrica Baroque for Creativity Day 2022. He organized chamber groups, worked with Lyrica Baroque musicians to come to Baton Rouge to work with his students and facilitated transportation to New Orleans so that his students could participate in our programming. Since then, his students have participated in Creativity Day every single year, won top prizes in our chamber music competition and helped to expand Creativity Day to be presented annually in Baton Rouge as well as New Orleans. Raudol teaches and performs from the heart, inspiring those around him to be passionate about what they do and above all else, enjoy the journey. We are thrilled to honor Raudol this year with the Arts Impact Award for his immense dedication to music, education and community in our region.

Morgan Stewart is an active musician and educator in the Greater New Orleans Area. After graduating from LaGuardia High School for Music and Performing Arts in New York City, Morgan moved to Philadelphia to pursue a degree in music education at Temple University. She went on to receive her Master of Music degree in clarinet performance from Loyola University New Orleans. She is a free-lance performer and has collaborated with Grammy nominated producer and composer Khari Mateen on his album Wait for Sunrise. As the Chief Programs Officer at the Roots of Music (2018-2022), she helped expand the program offerings by developing the Roots of Music Studio Academy and Sprouts of Music. She currently serves at the Band Director at St. Katharine Drexel Preparatory School. 

Morgan was one of our first Community Partners for Creativity Day during NOLA Chamber Fest 2022. She not only organized her students into chamber groups, but also facilitated multiple visits for Lyrica Baroque artists to work with her kids and even arranging the pieces they would performl. Since then, Morgan’s students have participated in Creativity Day every single year. Morgan leads by example through artistic excellence as a highly accomplished clarinetist and consistency and availability as an educator, creating trust and inspiring her students to enhance their lives through music. New Orleans is lucky to have such an incredible educator and steward of classical music. Thank you, Morgan, for your dedication, time, passion, commitment and friendship.

Anaïs St. John is a native New Orleanian.  This Creole songstress is a seasoned performer deft at jazz, opera, and musical theater. With a master’s degree in vocal performance and years of experience as a music educator, Anaïs challenges her audience to sit up and take notice. In 2004 and 2007, she attended the prestigious Cabaret Conference at Yale University. She received an invitation in 2009 to participate in the Sarteano Choral Conducting Workshop in Tuscany and in 2011 was awarded the Iona Richardson Award for Excellence in Teaching at Trinity Episcopal School in New Orleans.  Anaïs traveled to Mexico City in 2017, as an invited soloist with the Podar Choral at Centro Nationale de las Artes. Anaïs received a nomination for a Big Easy Award for her 2015 cabaret tribute, Last Dance:  A Tribute to Donna Summer, and she was also nominated in 2005 for A Purrfect Evening… The Songs of Eartha Kitt.  She was recently named one of New Orleans Magazine’s “Top Female Achievers,” and “People to Watch.”  She has also been honored by Gambit Weekly with its coveted L’Image award. Summers and holidays send Anaïs to festivals far and wide. Most recently, she traveled across the Atlantic to take her place among the women in jazz featured at Switzerland’s Jazz Ascona. In December, she helped ring in a sultry New Year at the Umbria Winter Jazz Festival in Orvieto, Italy. Locals can find Mrs. St. John performing every Saturday night at The Bombay Club in the French Quarter. 

Anaïs first worked with Lyrica Baroque performing for Lyrical Affair 2021. Since then she has given generously performing year after year for our fundraiser event and helping to raise awareness about our work, facilitate connections and build our audience base. We are inspired by her deep commitment to her craft alongside her devotion and dedication to education and inspiring our city’s youth through music. Lyrica Baroque believes in leading by example and Anaïs embodies this through all of her creative work. We are so grateful for the many ways she promotes arts education and music in New Orleans and are so grateful to honor her with our 2024 Arts Impact Award. Thank you, Anaïs!